Bella pushed the door open with her shoulder, balancing Timothy on her hip and trying to kick off her shoes at the same time. The familiarity of home; the soft scent of lemon cleaner, Chloe's half-folded laundry in a basket nearby, the faint hum of the fridge, should have felt grounding but all Bella felt was worry.
Apart from her own worry, she was worried for her sister as she couldn't help wondering how it was going with her. Could she have returned from the going to see Henry?
When she looked ahead, she sighed, realizing Rachel was back.
Timothy, on the other hand, wiggled eagerly until she set him down, and the little boy darted forward, calling in his bright, chirpy voice, "Aunty Ray Ray!"
Bella followed slowly, her own chest tightening. If Rachel was already home and that quiet, it meant she hadn't stayed long. It meant… something had happened. Something big.
